The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr. Francis Osafo-Mensah, says with the choked and expensive sites for industries in the Accra-Tema metropolis, the Eastern Region is the alternative for investors.

Dr. Osafo-Mensah said this when he took his turn at the meet-the-press series organised for Regional Ministers at the Information Services Department (ISD) in Accra yesterday. He said the Eastern Region has the advantage over all other regions of Ghana. It has easy accessibility to the ports of Tema, when it comes to nearness to the market.

Dr. Osafo-Mensah said his region has all it takes to industrialise in terms of climate, man-power and entrepreneurial skills, water, electricity, telephone facilities, relatively good road network and large potential local and external market. "Eastern Region has about 100 active medium scale industries engaged in manufacturing of 29 broad types of industrial products such as drugs and chemicals, textiles, lumber and wood processing, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, food processing etc."

Dr. Osafo-Mensah who is the MP for Mpraeso said his doors are open "to investors interested in agriculture in the Afram Plains District, the future bread basket for Ghana".

He said about 67.3 percent of the economically active population in the region is engaged in agricultural activities. "The region leads in production of industrial crops like pineapple - 58%, cola - 60% and oil palm - 70%. The region also contributes to national production of such crops as maize - 23% cassava 26.5%, citrus - 20% and cocoa - 13%.

He said as part of the President's Special Initiative (PSI) on cassava, a starch project using the Corporate Village Enterprise (COVE) has been established in the districts of Asuogyaman, Fanteakwa, Yilo and Manya Krobo, Akuapem North, as well as part of Suhum and New Juaben in response to market demand, which required Ghana to process and export a minimum of 100,000 tonnes of industrial starch per annum to be competitive in the global starch industry.

He also spoke on other areas of importance including health, development projects, tourism and roads.

The Minister said the government is phasing out the cash and carry system in the region through the mutual health insurance scheme. About 18 mutual health organisations have been formed to operate the scheme.

In reply to a question about the status of six assembly members who defected from the Manya Krobo Assembly to Osudoku, Dr. Osafo-Mensah said as far as he is concerned the assembly members are still members of the Manya Krobo Assembly, or they should declare their seats vacant for fresh elections.